Exploring Wisdom

Wanderings in Ministry and Spiritual Care

  • Home
  • Spiritual Care
  • Poetry and Prose
  • Sermons
  • About Me
News & Updates

Gnosticity Announcement

John Cooper
September 6, 2011
No Comments

For those of you that may not have heard, there’s been some changes in my life.  I’ve entered seminary to get a Master’s in Divinity at ILIFF School of Theology. I am not sure yet exactly where this will lead, but I will make announcements out here as my process…

Read more
Acceptance, Prejudice, Reflection, Relationships

Reflections on Elie Wiesel’s Night

John Cooper
September 6, 2011
No Comments

Listening to Elie Wiesel’s Night has rocked me deeply…I think for the first time in my life listening to such horror, such pain, my mind imagined it in a personal way…the experience has been profoundly painful. Just as a listener, I am humbled to think anyone endured such an experience.…

Read more
7 Principles, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

Compassion Sermon

John Cooper
July 18, 2011
2 Comments

After the Emma the Dog experience, our worship team asked if I would be willing to do a sermon on compassion.  Here it is.  It is based around our second principle, “Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.”  I think it was well received this morning.  Enjoy. 2011 Compassion Sermon

Read more
Reflection, Relationships, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

Illusion of Weakness Sermon

John Cooper
June 27, 2011
No Comments

This sermon is a bit out there.  I went out on a limb and gave a sermon as a guised archetype…guising is a form of mystical trance where you draw down a character.  I wrote and delivered the sermon as Li Tei Quai, a Taoism immortal of Chinese kung-fu legend.…

Addiction Compulsion Illusion Philosophy Religion Unitarian Universalist Weakness Read more
Acceptance, News & Updates, Reflection, Relationships

Emma the Dog: Hey People…please be kind and excellent.

John Cooper
June 11, 2011
No Comments

I have a brief story to tell.  Last night some kids in our neighborhood found a beautiful little chihuahua wandering the streets…they actually founds its owner.  The owner didn’t want it because of a new lease, left her door open, and when the animal got out, decided not to look…

Read more
Acceptance, Meditations, Prejudice, Reflection

Hey Mom! Peace on Earth…?

John Cooper
May 8, 2011
No Comments

Hey mom!  Happy Mother’s Day!  Would you like some controversial thought today?  Because that’s what I got you… I dedicate this blog post to you mom, with a shout-out to Rev. Lora Brandis, Consulting Minister at South Valley Unitarian Universalist (SVUUS) and Pocatello Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (PUUF), another mom who…

Read more
7 Principles, Unitarian Universalism

3: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

John Cooper
April 8, 2011
No Comments

As usual, to me, principle 3 relates not only to life in our congregations, but how we as UU’s live in the world around us day to day. A very important principle for us to live our commitment to respect and dignity of all souls, there’s a dimension to encouraging…

Read more
7 Principles, Reflection

2: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

John Cooper
February 14, 2011
No Comments

This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to pray (yes, even if you are a UU) that we, all of us, every last human, recognize the importance of this principle.  I had a different post prepared for this principle, until yesterday…I was going to talk about making just and equitable choices…

Read more
Appreciative Inquiry, Prejudice, Relationships, Sermons

Extreme Welcoming Sermon

John Cooper
February 9, 2011
No Comments

Last month in January, I had the good fortune to “inherit” a service because our consulting minister was called out of town unexpectedly (well, kind-of unexpectedly).  The title was already set and the topic already published; Extreme Welcoming. I got into thinking about what makes up the idea of welcoming,…

Read more
News & Updates

Sermons Moved Here

John Cooper
February 8, 2011
No Comments

For all those of you who complained about being able to download the sermons, they are now here, and I apologize…ScribD, GoogleDocs, you should all be ashamed of yourselves for creating such a difficult linking system.  Epic failure all around. The sermons are now here, in the sermons area —…

Read more
  • « Previous
  • Next »
Copyright © 2026 Exploring Wisdom | Theme by: Theme Horse | Powered by: WordPress